LETHAL NAVAL WEAPONS FOR INDIA

The Indian Navy is investing massively in training its sailors in new technologies and developing state-of-the-art vessels, weapons and navigation systems to give the nation an edge over adversaries. A Special Report

India is growing its capability to become a formidable maritime offensive power. The Indian Navy (IN) is in the process of inducting indigenously-developed weapons and has also operationalised new weapons onboard surface, subsurface and aviation assets. Naval MiG-29K, and P-81 aircraft, along with state-of-the-art Scorpene-class attack submarines and new warships are equipped with the latest weapons in the region.

Boeing has supplied a significant number of Harpoon Block-II missiles to India for use on Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, Boeing P-81 planes and Shishumarclass (Type-209) submarines. The Harpoon Block-II is the latest version of the subsonic missile and can strike land-based targets and ships hard. It is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile which can be launched from surface ships, submarines and combat aircraft. The Indian Air Force has deployed its Jaguar maritime strike aircraft under the Andaman & Nicobar Command, a strategic hotspot of China's sea trade route. This Jaguar strike aircraft is equipped with 130 km range Harpoon Block-II anti-ship systems. The deployment of Jaguars underlines the IAF's capability to support the Indian Navy in dominating the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and swing into action if required.